2006年VOA标准英语-Campaigning Ends In Benin Presidential Ele

By Joe Bavier
Cotonou, Benin
04 March 2006

Campaigning has officially closed in Benin's presidential race, with first round contenders holding evening rallies¹ Friday. Joe Bavier is in the commercial capital Cotonou for VOA and has more on the atmosphere there as candidates launched last minute bids to win over voters.

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At an evening rally² for Benin presidential hopeful Adrien Houngbedji, a man wanders through the crowd of thousands playing a drum and rallying³ those nearby to sing along in praise of their candidate.

As the sun goes down and the rally warms up, supporters crowding into the stands begin to chant.

Later, the performances of well known artists and politicians share the stage at an event some in the audience call a meeting, but others call a concert.

One young man has painted the entire top half of his body white, with a rainbow, the symbol of his party, stretching across his chest.

In these the closing hours of the official campaign period, the port city of Cotonou has taken on a carnival⁴ mood, as more than two dozen candidates make one last push to impress voters.

Houngbedji supporter Nelson Dogbre admits not everyone in the stadium is there for the political speeches. "A lot of people here are for Adrien Houngbedji, but some of them, perhaps I, you come here, so the thing is that you are in the mood, you come here its like you're here for the party. Everything here in Africa in our country it's like a party," he said.

Across town, another candidate, Severin Adjovi is holding his own rally, complete with a mobile dance floor and D.J. mounted⁵ on the back of a truck.

But even with a group of young men dancing a blowing whistles nearby, 24-year-old Sandrin Djossou says everyone is taking this election very seriously. "It's an important moment in our country, because we are going to change once again our democracy," he said.

Saturday is officially a day when no campaigning is allowed, as voters prepare to go to the polls⁶ early Sunday. But Friday night in Cotonou, with all the rallies long over, the party is far from finished.

1 rallies   

集会( rally的名词复数 )； [网球、羽毛球]连续对打； 公路汽车赛； （精神等方面）振作

参考例句：

• He attended two rallies last year. 去年他参加了两场汽车拉力赛。
• If the whole family rallies round, we can get Jim out of debt. 如果全家都来帮助吉姆，就能帮他把债还清。

2 rally   

n.集会，公路汽车赛；v.集合，恢复，振作

参考例句：

• The grand mass rally was held on the square.广场上举行了盛大的群众集会。
• The team captain vainly tried to rally his troops.队长试图振作部队的士气，但没有成功。

3 rallying   

恢复( rally的现在分词 )； 价格回升； 集合起来； 嘲笑

参考例句：

• Sometimes the rallying cry is'save the Tomb of Christ from the Heathen!' 有时喊的口号是'把基督的坟墓从异教徒手中夺回来！
• Shaocheng Park was the rallying place. 少城公园是学生们临时集合的地点。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

4 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

5 mounted   

adj.骑在马[自行车]上的；安装好的；裱好的v.登上，骑上( mount的过去式和过去分词)；增加，上升；上演；准备

参考例句：

• He mounted his horse and rode off. 他跨上马骑走了。
• He saddled his horse, mounted, and rode away at a gallop. 他给马套上鞍子，跨上马背疾驰而去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 polls   

民意调查( poll的名词复数 )； 民意调查的结果； 投票选举； 投票数

参考例句：

• The two candidates are in a dead heat in the polls. 两名候选人在民意测验中势均力敌。
• Opinion polls indicated a two-thirds majority in favour of ratification of the treaty. 民意调查表明2/3 的多数票赞成批准这个条约。